写 meaning and stroke order
To write
How to write 写, stroke by stroke
5 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Meaning of 写
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to write
- used in 寫意|写意[xie4 yi4]
How 写 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 冖 (cover), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 写
写 sits a cover 冖 on top of 与 (yǔ, to give). Picture yourself under a roof, giving your thoughts to paper as you write.
写 (xiě) is the everyday verb for writing anything by hand or composing text, and it often pairs with what you write, like 写字 (write characters) or 写信 (write a letter). Example: 我在写作业。(Wǒ zài xiě zuòyè.) I am doing my homework.
Common mistake: Learners often write the top as 宀 with a dot, but 写 uses the plain cover 冖 with no dot. The bottom 与 is also easy to confuse with 马 (mǎ, horse), so keep it to a single horizontal stroke at the base.
Common words with 写
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 听写 | tīngxiě | (of a pupil) to write down (in a dictation exercise); dictation; (music) to transcribe by | HSK 1 |
| 写作 | xiězuò | to write; to compose | HSK 3 |
| 描写 | miáoxiě | to describe; to depict; to portray; depiction; portrayal | HSK 4 |
| 抄写 | chāoxiě | to copy; to transcribe | HSK 4 |
| 写字楼 | xiězìlóu | office building | HSK 6 |
| 写字台 | xiězìtái | writing desk | HSK 6 |
| 书写 | shūxiě | to write | HSK 7-9 |
| 填写 | tiánxiě | to fill in a form; to write data in a box (on a questionnaire or web form) | HSK 7-9 |
| 编写 | biānxiě | to compile | HSK 7-9 |
| 撰写 | zhuànxiě | to write; to compose | HSK 7-9 |
| 写照 | xiězhào | portrayal | HSK 7-9 |
| 写信 | xiěxìn | to write a letter | |
| 写下 | xiěxià | to write down | |
| 写字 | xiězì | to write (by hand); to practice calligraphy |
写 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 写
Learning 写 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 写
How many strokes are in 写?
写 is written with 5 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 写 mean?
写 (xiě) means to write. A common word with it is 听写 (tīngxiě), meaning "(of a pupil) to write down (in a dictation exercise); dictation; (music) to transcribe by ".
How do you pronounce 写?
写 is pronounced xiě, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 写?
The radical of 写 is 冖, which carries the idea of "cover". Dictionaries list 写 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 写?
The traditional form of 写 is 寫. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 写 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 写 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 写 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 写 and 画?
写 (xiě) means to write words or compose text, while 画 (huà) means to draw or paint pictures. 写 can mean to sketch in some literary phrases, but in daily speech use 画 for drawing.
Is 写 ever pronounced xiè?
Yes, but only in the word 写意 (xièyì), a freehand style of Chinese painting. In almost every other case it is xiě with the third tone.